2025.09.22
”"The government was supposed to remove the electronics tax – but raised it even though it benefits Temu and Shein"”
APPLiA and the Electronics Industry in Current Sustainability: On September 22, the government will present its last budget for the mandate period. It is a last chance for the government to abolish the harmful electronics tax on white goods and home electronics that has no environmental benefit. This is written by Kent Oderud, chairman of the white goods industry's trade organization Applia, and Pernilla Enebrink, CEO of the Electronics Industry.
”"Plastic bag tax, flight tax, increased electronics tax, increased fuel tax, increased energy tax. These are just some of the new taxes and tax increases the Social Democrats have introduced in the last eight years. Only a moderate-led government can stop the Social Democrats' tax increases."”
This is what Elisabeth Svantesson (M) said before the 2022 election. The promise was clear – 46 tax increases and new taxes would disappear or be reduced. And the government has not been idle. Fuel taxes have been reduced. The aviation tax and the plastic bag tax have been abolished – both with the argument that they lacked environmental impact, were cumbersome for companies and made it more expensive for ordinary people. But in other areas nothing has happened – on the contrary, things have gotten worse. The government has to some extent continued the tax increase policy that the Social Democrats were accused of. The clearest example is the record increase in the electronics tax of almost 50 percent during the mandate period. In 2024, the state collected a whopping 2.4 billion kronor from consumers, compared to around 1.6 billion in 2022. A tax that drives consumers to actors who do not have to comply with our important environmental regulations.
”The clearest example is the record increase in the electronics tax of almost 50 percent during the mandate period.”
Of course, this development cannot continue without the credibility of the government's chemicals policy being questioned. Not least considering that a week ago the government presented its commitment to a clean environment and a non-toxic everyday life. The aim was to strengthen the control of products with harmful chemicals in imported goods from platforms such as Temu and Shein. The Chemicals Inspectorate will receive a limited supplement of SEK 25 million from 2026, a clear blow when the government does not simultaneously remove the electronics tax.
”"Due to a loophole in the legislation, players like Temu and Shein do not have to pay the electronics tax. The result is thus in practice the opposite of the intention behind the tax."”
Due to a loophole in the legislation, players like Temu and Shein do not have to pay the electronics tax, as they sell their goods directly to Swedish consumers without warehousing in Sweden. The result is that the Chinese discount platforms can offer significantly lower prices than Swedish stores, while at the same time these platforms often directly sell dangerous products with significantly worse sustainability and working conditions than the Swedish and European industry. The result is thus in practice the opposite of the intention behind the tax.
To add insult to injury, the environmental impact of the tax has proven to be very limited, as the products affected are produced for an international market that does not take into account Swedish special regulations. The electronics tax has therefore been criticized in several evaluations, which have shown that the tax has primarily become a cash cow for the state rather than a tool for reducing harmful substances or environmental toxins.
Every year the tax remains in effect, Sweden loses competitiveness and the green transition is delayed. The government now has one last chance this term to abolish the electronics tax. Now it is up to the government to prove whether to abolish the electronics tax – or was it just talk?
Kent Oderud, Chairman, Home Appliances Sweden (Applia)
Pernilla Enebrink, CEO, Electronics Industry
